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Originally Posted by 68bird400HO
Jack - I think everyone agrees that most Chinese stuff is junk. But just because a part is GM or Delco doesn't make it immortal. Yes, NOS parts that don't have soft components are expensive and maybe worth the cost. But rubber diaphragms will deteriorate over time from sitting, much like your tires will petrify over time and become unsafe after 15 or 20 years. NOS parts with these soft components are a risk to use. People can ask what they want and may find someone to pay it, but that doesn't make it a safe reliable part for a car that gets driventeriora
This is not my first rodeo with fuel pump failures, just my first recent one where no good stock replacements are available anymore. About 30 years ago I had a fuel pump go while driving my 69 GS Stage1. It started running rough so I tried getting it home and didn't realize it was leaking gas into my oil pan. Needless to say, it took out my bottom end and had to yank the motor. I actually didn't know it could do that. So, yeah, I am not going to trust rubber that's been sitting a shelf for 30+ years for this particular item.
With that said, I did pick up a USA made stock replacement that is less than 10 years old with the correct arm. The bird is alive again.
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Pat, the rubber theory of yours about tires doesn't hold a hill of beans!! Take a good look at my tires the next time you see my car. Those Firestone Wide Ovals are over 30 years old and still look great, like the day I bought them. Granted, rubber can deteriorate with time and age, but if cared for, can last indefinitely!! Not all Chinese parts are junk, but many of them are. I also know that GM parts are not perfect, but you have a much better chance of getting a decent part that will last rather than something made overseas!! GM made most fuel pumps for the late 60's cars up until about 2009 so you might not get one that is 30 yrs old.
I'm sure your real reason is the cost, and many people would agree with you as was pointed out earlier. But in this time of cheap parts being reproduced overseas, things have changed. Case in point, I was once told that the NOS strips for a 69 Judge would not be good to buy because the glue would be dried up and never hold. I proved that theory incorrect too and bought a set that looked and went on perfect about 32 years after they were made. Now they cost me triple what the reproduction stripes would cost but the color shades are correct where the reproduction colors are slightly off.
Cliff R is the real guru here and someone to listen to. When Cliff chimed in here a few days ago and echoed the Chinese junk talk and all the problems his many customers have had over the years with these cheap Chinese pumps, that said it all for me. It still is a personal decision, and you make yours and I make mine. I go NOS and wouldn't even think otherwise. What confused me about your comments is your story in our newsletter about searching boneyards to find a date coded voltage regulator for that same car and then rebuilding it. Granted it didn't cost that much but still I thought you wanted everything correct on your 68 Bird? Bottom line is, we agree to disagree about these pumps!! That is all I will say on the subject!!